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| Bank on WB report for relief disbursement | | | Now that there is difference of opinion
and perception between the state Gov
ernment and the centre on the extent of damage to the basic infrastructure caused by floods in Jammu and Kashmir it would be better if the BJP led NDA Government relied on the World Bank assessment report.
Reports indicate that senior functionaries in the state bureaucracy are quite unhappy with the attitude of the Union Government as far as the latter's bid to provide financial support to the state Government as far as rebuilding of the infrastructure and rehabilitation of flood affected people is concerned.As far as rebuilding the infrastructure is concerned the state Government had conveyed to the centre that there was need for Rs.2926 crores but against this the central Government sanctioned Rs.1120 crores thereby leaving a wide gap between the availability of funds and the expenditure. It is in this connection that Governor, N.N.Vohra, has pleaded for additional funds in the light of the state Government's projected demand for Rs.41,000 crores that were needed for rehabilitating all those affected by the September last floods.
The World Bank (WB) has started its detailed assessment of losses caused to infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir during the last year's devastating flood, ahead of taking a final call on extending financial support to the State.The WB will be assessing the damages in all sectors including housing, public infrastructure, industry and others.A 20-member team is in the state since Monday and , would be visiting different flood affected districts to survey the damage and make need assessment for post disaster recovery during their five day stay.While four WB teams would take stock of the devastation in different districts of Kashmir, three other teams would be visiting the affected districts of Jammu.One team each in Kashmir visited north and south of Valley while another team took stock of damage to health and education sectors in Srinagar. The WB teams also visited affected districts of Jammu .The capital city of Srinagar was worst hit by the flood that hit Kashmir during the first week of September 2014, causing colossal loss to lives and property including residential houses. The health and education sectors suffered massive damage in the Valley. "It seems that the World Bank team members may be able to produce an objective report on the nature and extent of damage to public and private property in Jammu and Kashmir owing to floods.There are apprehensions that the state Government's report projecting a loss to the tune of Rs.2926 crores and demand for Rs.41,000 crores on the rehabilitation of those affected by floods was based on assumptions because when the report was prepared there were areas which stood cut off because of flood water thereby leaving no scope for the Government officials to have an on the spot assessment of the losses.Reports do indicate that the central Government believes that the assessment of losses projected by the state Government was on a higher side which has made the centre to delay release of additional funds.The only way to end this conflict is to bank on the assess,ent report that the Wold Bank team may prepare.The Wolrd Bank team is interested in providing financial help for rebuilding the damaged infrastructure and for meeting the expenses on rehabilitation of flood affected people and both the state Government and the centre should welcome it.Since the centre claims that the relief and compensation would be credited directly to the bank accounts of the affected families it would be better if the Government of India stuck to its plan so that there was no interference by the middlemen who are prone to follow corrupt practices during such relief disbursement.
Relief should go to the right people and once the genuine flood sufferers were identified financial help should be released immediately.Even if the centre wants the now BJP-PDP coalition Government to get the credit for proper disbursement of the flood relief let it be done but there should be no delay in relief disbursement. |
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